US6874247B1 - Toothbrush dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

A toothbrush dryer includes a housing formed as a heating chamber for storing toothbrush in the housing, and a heating device provided in the housing preferably at a bottom portion of the housing for warming the toothbrush for keeping a dried toothbrush for preventing bacteria, fungi or algae infection or contamination.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,879 to Daniel R. Schumaier disclosed a moisture sensitive item drying appliance for demoisturizing electronic hearing aid, tooth brush, etc., by providing a gas moving means (30) for forcing a gas flow circulation and a heater means (36) for heating the gas. However, it may increase the production or installation cost, operation and maintenance problems by providing the gas moving means (30) just for such a small appliance, thereby affecting its commercial value.

The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the prior art and invented the present toothbrush dryer with simplified mechanism and lower production cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush dryer including a housing formed as a heating chamber for storing toothbrush in the housing, and a heating device provided in the housing preferably at a bottom portion of the housing for warming the toothbrush for keeping a dried toothbrush for preventing bacteria, fungi or algae infection or contamination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing the present invention when opening the cover.

FIG. 4 is a sectional drawing of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in the drawing figures, the toothbrush dryer of the present invention comprises: ahousing1 and aheating device2 formed or mounted in thehousing1, preferably at a bottom or lower portion of thehousing1.

Thehousing1 includes: aside wall11 generally formed as vertical wall, atop wall portion12 secured to an upper portion of theside wall11, a cover orfront cover13 pivotally secured to the top wall portion12 (or pivotally secured to a housing portion of the housing1), and abottom wall plate14 secured to a bottom portion of theside wall11.

Thehousing1 may be formed as a cylindrical shape or a vertical hollow column, but not limited in this invention. Thehousing1 may be made of plastic or any other materials.

For hanging the present invention on a wall, afixing plate16 may be provided in this invention. Thefixing plate16 includes a pair ofvertical extensions161 slidably engageable with a pair ofgrooves15 vertically recessed in a back portion of theside wall11, a plurality offixing holes162 formed through thefixing plate16 for fastening screws, bolts or nails through thefixing holes162 for fixing thefixing plate16 on a building wall (for example, a wall in a toilet room), and aretainer163 formed on a bottom of thefixing plate16 for downwardly limiting the side wall of thehousing1 when engaged on thefixing wall16.

Atoothpaste holder3 may be additionally provided in the present invention, including apin31 formed on thetoothpaste holder3 to be inserted into apin socket17 recessed in the housing for detachably securing thetoothpaste holder3 on thehousing1. However, such atoothpaste holder3 is just served as an accessory for this invention, not so critical in this invention.

Thecover13 includes: a pair ofpivots131 formed on apivot arm132 formed on a central upper portion of the cover to be pivotally engaged with a pair ofpivot holes121 recessed in anarm socket122 recessed in a central front portion of thetop wall portion12 of thehousing1, whereby upon a downward pivotal movement of thecover13, thecover13 may close afront opening10 formed in a front portion of thehousing1 for withdrawing toothbrush B from the housing for brushing tooth or for receiving the toothbrush B into thehousing1 for drying the toothbrush.

However, the cover of thehousing1 may be modified and designed as other choices, not limited in this invention.

Theheating device2 includes: aheating element21 electrically connected to a power source by anelectric cord211 and secured on aboard20 which is fastened to a dryingpan23 through a heatdissipating plate22 having aretainer plate201 retained on a bottom of the board by screws S, and a plurality oftoothbrush sockets24 recessed in a periphery of the dryingpan23 and in thebottom wall plate14 of the housing for holding a toothbrush B in eachtoothbrush socket24.

Theheating element21 may be a heating thermistor of positive temperature coefficient semiconductor (PTCS) or any other electric heating device. The temperature as produced by theheating element21 may be controlled to be 40-80° C., but not limited.

Eachtoothbrush socket24 further includes apacking member25 having aslit251 cut therethrough and packed or sandwiched in between the dryingpan23 and thebottom wall plate14 for resiliently clamping the toothbrush B as held in eachtoothbrush socket24 and also for shielding thetoothbrush socket24 for precluding intrusion of external objects and water droplets thereinto.

Thepacking member25 may be made of silicon rubber (but not limited) having proper heat conductivity for transferring the heat from the dryingpan23 to the toothbrush B.

The dryingpan23 is connected to theheating element21 through theheat dissipating plate22 which may be made of ceramic or aluminum alloy (but not limited) having good heat conductance for transferring heat from theheating element21 to the dryingpan23 which in turn will transfer the heat towards the toothbrush for drying the toothbrush B for preventing from infection or contamination by bacteria, fungi or algae.

The dryingpan23 is preferably made of material having good heat conductance and may be made of polycarbonate (PC), but not limited in this invention.

Electric insulation should be carefully considered in selecting or making the related elements of the present invention for preventing electrical shock or injury caused to the toothbrush users whenever contacting the present invention.

The dryingpan23 has a plurality ofprotrusions231 formed thereon for placing other small items including artificial teeth, razor, etc., on the pan and also for reinforcing the strength of thepan23 and for retarding any free flow of water droplets on thepan23 when drained onto thepan23 such as drained from a wet toothbrush B just being inserted into thesocket24.

Accordingly, the dryingpan23 may provide a heat source for vaporizing any water droplets drained or falling onto thepan23 and also for heating the air entering aninterior100 in thehousing1 through theslits251 formed in thepacking members25 in thetoothbrush sockets24 for effecting thermosiphon in theinterior100. That is to say that the air as heated will decrease its density and will be floated upwardly (A) to carry moisture or vapor from the toothbrush B as heated to be vented or discharged through atop venting hole120 formed in thetop wall portion12 of thehousing1, to thereby release the moisture outwardly to keep adry interior100 in thehousing1 for preventing from bacteria, fungi or alga infection or contamination (FIGS. 4,5).

Awire bracket26 may be fixed under thehousing1 for winding theelectrical cord211 of the power source on thebracket26.

Apower indicator212 may also be provided to indicate a normal power supply when operating the beatingdevice2 of the present invention.

The present invention is superior to the prior art because:

• • 1. Aheating element21 is provided under the dryingpan23 to indirectly heat the toothbrush B to prevent from overheating of the toothbrush B which is generally made of plastic material.
  • 2. A thermosiphon is effected in the interior of thehousing1 which acts like a stack for drafting an air streamflow upwardly to carry and discharge the moisture as released from the toothbrush to efficiently discharge the moisture and efficiently dry the toothbrush. An air fan for forced draft of the air is thus eliminated for saving production cost of the dryer.
  • 3. The elements are simple so that the production cost will be decreased and the operation and maintenance problems will be minimized.

The present invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

1. A toothbrush dryer comprising:

a housing having a cover formed thereon for defining an interior in said housing when closing the cover, with said cover opened for inserting a toothbrush into said housing or for withdrawing a toothbrush from said housing; and

a heating device formed in said housing for heating a drying pan formed in a bottom portion of said housing for transferring heat from said heating device to said toothbrush for indirectly heating the toothbrush, and for heating said drying pan for heating air in said interior for effecting a thermosiphon of the air for carrying and discharging moisture outwardly as released from the toothbrush to dry the toothbrush for preventing from bacteria infection or contamination.

2. A dryer according toclaim 1, wherein said housing includes: a side wall generally formed as vertical wall, a top wall portion secured to an upper portion of the side wall, said cover pivotally secured to the top wall portion, and a bottom wall plate secured to a bottom portion of the side wall.

3. A dryer according toclaim 2, wherein said housing further includes a fixing plate having a pair of vertical extensions slidably engageable with a pair of grooves vertically recessed in a back portion of the side wall, a plurality of fixing holes formed through the fixing plate for fastening screws through the fixing holes for fixing the fixing plate on a building wall, and a retainer formed on a bottom of the fixing plate for downwardly limiting the side wall of the housing when engaged on the fixing wall.

4. A dryer according toclaim 1, wherein said housing includes a toothpaste holder having a pin formed on the toothpaste holder to be inserted into a pin socket recessed in the housing for detachably securing the toothpaste holder on the housing.

5. A dryer according toclaim 2, wherein said cover includes: a pair of pivots formed on a pivot arm formed on a central upper portion of the cover to be pivotally engaged with a pair of pivot holes recessed in an arm socket recessed in a central front portion of the top wall portion of the housing, whereby upon a downward pivotal movement of the cover, the cover will close a front opening formed in a front portion of the housing for receiving the toothbrush into the housing.

6. A dryer according toclaim 1, wherein said heating device includes: a heating element electrically connected to a power source by an electric cord and secured on a board which is fastened to said drying pan through a heat dissipating plate having a retainer plate retained on a bottom of the board, and a plurality of toothbrush sockets recessed in a periphery of the drying pan and in a bottom wall plate of said housing for holding a toothbrush in each said toothbrush socket.

7. A dryer according toclaim 6, wherein said heating element is a heating thermistor of positive temperature coefficient semiconductor.

8. A dryer according toclaim 6, wherein each said toothbrush socket further includes a packing member having a slit cut therethrough and packed or sandwiched in between the drying pan and the bottom wall plate for resiliently clamping the toothbrush as held in each said toothbrush socket and for shielding the toothbrush socket for precluding intrusion of external objects and water droplets thereinto.

9. A dryer according toclaim 8, wherein said packing member is made of silicon rubber having a heat conductivity for transferring the heat from the drying pan to the toothbrush.

10. A dryer according toclaim 6, wherein said drying pan has a plurality of protrusions formed thereon.

11. A dryer according toclaim 1, wherein said housing further includes a wire bracket fixed under the housing for winding an electrical cord of the power source of the heating device on the bracket.

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